Chapter 10, Verse 4
बुद्धिर्ज्ञानमसम्मोह: क्षमा सत्यं दम: शम: | सुखं दु:खं भवोऽभावो भयं चाभयमेव च ॥4॥ अहिंसा समता तुष्टिस्तपो दानं यशोऽयशः। भवन्ति भावा भूतानां मत्त एव पृथग्विधाः॥ ॥5॥
buddhir jñānam asammohaḥ kṣamā satyaṃ damaḥ śamaḥ | sukhaṃ duḥkhaṃ bhavo'bhāvo bhayaṃ cābhayam eva ca || 4 || ahiṃsā samatā tuṣṭis tapo dānaṃ yaśo'yaśaḥ | bhavanti bhāvā bhūtānāṃ matta eva pṛthagvidhāḥ || 5 ||
"Intelligence, wisdom, non-delusion, forgiveness, truth, control of the senses, control of the mind, happiness, sorrow, birth, death, fear, and fearlessness, non-violence, equanimity, contentment, austerity, charity, fame, and infamy—these diverse qualities of living beings all arise from Me alone."
Key Insight:
The Bhagavad Gita teaches us through 10.4 that true peace is found when we align our actions with Dharma.
The Bhagavad Gita teaches us through 10.4 that true peace is found when we align our actions with Dharma.
Detailed Meaning
In these verses, Krishna establishes Himself as the ultimate source of all psychological states and moral attributes. He lists twenty distinct qualities (bhāvāḥ) that range from cognitive abilities like 'Buddhi' (intellect) to emotional states like 'Sukham' (happiness) and social outcomes like 'Yashas' (fame). The core teaching is that both positive and negative attributes, and even dualities like birth and death, are manifestations of Divine energy. Just as electricity powers various appliances differently, the one Divine source manifests through different individuals based on their past karma and present choices (purushartha).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core message of Gita 10.4?
Intelligence, wisdom, non-delusion, forgiveness, truth, control of the senses, control of the mind, happiness, sorrow, birth, death, fear, and fearlessness, non-violence, equanimity, contentment, austerity, charity, fame, and infamy—these diverse qualities of living beings all arise from Me alone.